Legislative Update - May 16, 2015

Dear friends,

 

We are in the final push of the legislative session and must adjourn by midnight on Monday, May 18 in order to avoid a special session. I remain optimistic that we will get done on time. In these final days of budget negotiations, the Senate, House and Governor are still apart in their funding targets for education.

 

Now is the time to set the right priorities for Minnesota’s future, and I believe education needs to be at the top of the list. With a $2 billion budget surplus, we have a unique opportunity to build on the progress we made together and make further investments in our kids and their schools. Unfortunately, the $400 million E-12 budget target announced by the Senate and House yesterday is insufficient to make the kinds of investments that are needed. For that reason, I support further investment, which would allow us to both invest in our schools and in early childhood education, including pre-kindergarten.

 

As always, please contact me anytime with comments, concerns or questions. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-7807 or by email at rep.joann.ward@house.mn. I also invite you to “Like” my Facebook page to learn more about happenings at the Capitol and around our community. You can do so here: https://www.facebook.com/CitizensForJoAnnWard?ref=hl.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

JoAnn Ward

 

“In a time of drastic change it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists.”

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) American philosopher and author